第1章

Intheolddaystherewereangelswhocameandtookmenbythehandandledthemawayfromthecityofdestruction。Weseenowhite-wingedangelsnow。Butyetmenareledawayfromthreateningdestruction:ahandisputintotheirs，whichleadsthemgentlyforthtowardacalmandbrightland，sothattheylooknomorebackward；andthehandmaybealittlechild"s。

ThereisneitherEastnorWest，Border，norBreed，norBirth，Whentwostrongmenstandfacetoface，tho"theycomefromtheendsoftheearth!

IThappenedbymerechancethattheSeptemberdayonwhichProfessorVincentBurgess，A。B。，fromBoston，firstenteredSunriseCollegeasinstructorinGreek，wasthesamedayonwhichVicBurleigh，overgrowncountryboyfromaKansasclaimoutbeyondtheWalnutRiver，signedupwiththesecretaryoftheCollegeBoardandpaidtheentrancefeeforhisfreshmanyear。

Andfurther，bychance，ithappenedthatthetwoyoungmenhadfirstmetatthegatewaytothecampus，onecomingfromtheEastandtheotherfromtheWest，andhavingexchangedthecourtesiesofstrangergreeting，theyhadwalked，sidebyside，upthelongavenuetothefootoftheslope。

Together，theyhadclimbedthebroadflightofstepsleadinguptotheimposingdoorwayofSunrise，withthegreatletterS

carvedinstonereliefaboveit；and，afterpausingamomenttotakeinthematchlesswonderofthelandscapeoverwhicholdSunrisekeepswatch，thecollegeportalhadswungopen，andthetwohadenteredatthesametime。

InsidethedoorwaytheProfessorandthecountryboywereimpressed，thoughindifferingdegrees，withthemassivebeautyoftherotundaoverwhichthestainedglassofthedomehangsahaloofmellowradiance。

Involuntarilytheyliftedtheireyestowardthiscrownoflightandsawfarabovethem，wroughtindaintycoloring，thedesignofthegreatStateSealofKansas，withitsinscriptionTheysawsomethingmoreinthatupwardglance。Onthestairwayoftherotunda，ElinorWream，thenieceofthepresidentofSunriseCollege，wasleaningoverthebalustrade，lookingatthemwithcuriouseyes。

HersmileofrecognitionasshecaughtsightofProfessorBurgess，gaveplacetoanexpressionofhalf-concealedridicule，assheglanceddownatVicBurleigh，thebig，heavy-bonedyoungfellow，sogrotesquelyimpossibletotheharmonyoftheplace。

Asthetwomendroppedtheireyes，theyencounteredtheupturnedfaceofaplainlydressedgirlcomingupthestairsfromthebasement，withabigfeatherdusterinherhand。

ItwasoldBondSaxon"sdaughterDennie，whowasearninghertuitionbykeepingthelibraryandofficesinorder。

Asiftoevenmatters，itwasVicBurleighwhocaughtatokenofrecognitionnow，whiletheyoungProfessorwassurveyedwithfearlessdisapproval。

Allthistookonlyamomentoftime。Longafterwardthesetwomenknewthatinthatmomentanantagonismwasbornbetweenthemthatmustfightitselfoutthroughthelengthofdays。

Butnow，Dr。LloydFenneben，DeanofSunrise，knowntostudentsandalumnialikeas"DeanFunnybone，"wasgraspingeachman"shandwithacordialgripandmeasuringeachwithakeenglancefrompiercingblackeyes，ashebadethemequalwelcome。

Andherealllikenessofconditionsendsforthesetwo。Dayscomeandgo，moonswaxandwane，seedtimeandharvest，coldandheat，summerandwinterglidefourfoldthroughtheirappointedseasons，beforethetwoyoungmenstandsidebysideonacommonlevelagain。

Andtheeventsofthesechangingseasonsringinsorapidly，andinsoinevitableafashion，thatthewholecyclerunslikearealstoryalongthepage。

STRIFE

_Withthefirstfaintnoteoutofdistanceflung，FromthemomentmanhearsthesirencallOfVictory"sbugle，whichsoundsforall，TohisinnerselfthepromiseismadeTowearynot，restnot，butallunafraidPresson——tillforhimthepaeanbesung。

Thesongforthevictorissweet，issweet——

YettothemusicamemoryclingsOftramplednestlings，ofbrokenwings，Andoffaceswhitewithdefeat!_——

ELIZABETHD。PRESTON

CHAPTERI

"DEANFUNNYBONE"

_Naturetheysay，dothdote，AndcannotmakeamanSaveonsomeworn-outplan，Repeatingusbyrote:

ForhimherOld-Worldmouldsasideshethrew，……

Withstuffuntainted，shapedaheronew_——LOWELL

DR。LLOYDFENNEBEN，DeanofSunriseCollege，hadmigratedtotheWalnutValleywiththefoundingoftheschoolhere。

Infact，hehadbroughtthecollegewithhimwhenhecamehither，andhadsetit，asalightnottobehidden，onthecrestofthathighridgethatrunseastofthelittletownofLagondaLedge。Andthetowneagerlytookthenewschooltoitself；atonceitsprideandprofit。

Yea，thetownrisesandsetswithSunrise。Whenthefirstgleamofmorning，hiddenbytheeastridgefromtheWalnutValley，glintsredlyfromthesouthwindowsofthecollegedomeinthewintertime，andfromthenorthwindowsinthesummertime，thetownbestirs；itself，andthefactorywhistlesblow。

AndwhenthelastcrimsongloryofeveningputsahaloofflameaboutthebrowofSunrise，thepeopleknowthatoutbeyondtheWalnutRiverthedayispassing，andthepearl-graymantleoftwilightisdeepeningtovelvetydarknessonthewide，quietprairielands。

LagondaLedgewasabetterplaceafterthecollegesettledpermanentlyaboveit。Someimprovidentcitizenstookanewholdonlife，whilesomeundesirableswhohadlivedinlawlessinfamyskulkedacrosstheWalnutanddisappearedinthatroughpicturesqueregionfullofuncertaintiesthatliesbehindthewestbluffsofthestream。

Allthis，afterthecollegehadfoundanabidingplaceonthelimestoneridge。ForSunrisehadbeenamigratorybirdbeforereachingtheoutskirtsofLagondaLedge。Asafulfillmentofprophecy，ithadarisenfromthevisionsandpocketsofsomeBostonscholars，andithadcometotheWestandwasmadeflesh——orstone——anddweltamongmenontheoutskirtsofaboomingyoungKansastown。

LloydFennebenwasjustoutofHarvardwhenDr。JoshuaWream，hisstep-brother，manyyearshissenior，professorofallthedeadlanguageseverleftunburied，hadputaconsiderablefortuneintohishands，andintohisbrainthedreamofalife-work——

eventhebuildingofagreatuniversityintheWest。FortheWreamswereastubborn，self-willed，bookishbreed，whoheldthatsalvationofsoulscouldcomeonlythroughpossessionofacollegediploma。

YoungFennebenhadcometoKansaswithallhisyouthandhealthandmoney，withhighidealsandcultureandambitionforsuccessanddreamsofhonor——and，hiddendeepdown，thememoryofsomesortofloveaffair，butthatwashisownbusiness。

WiththisdreamofanewHarvardonthewesternprairies，hehadburnedhisbridgesbehindhim，andinanunbusiness-likeway，relyingtoomuchuponaboardoftrusteeswhomhehadinterestedinhisplanshehadeagerlybegunhistask，strugglingtoadapttheWesttohisuniversitymodel，measuringallmenandmeansbythescholarlyruleofhisAlmaMater。Beingayoungman，hetookhimselffullseriously，anditwasatremendousblowtohissenseofdignitywhentheyouthfulJayhawkersattheoutsetdubbedhim"DeanFunnybone"——anamehewasnevertolose。

Hiscollegeflourishedsoamazinglythatanotherboomtown，fartherinland，cameacrosstheprairieoneday，andbeforetheeyesoftheyoungdeanboughtitofthemoney-lovingtrustees——

bodyandsoulanddean——andpackeditoffasthePlainsIndianswouldcarryoffawhitecaptive，milesawaytothewestward。

Plumpeddowninabigframebarracksinthepublicsquareoftwentyacresinthemiddleofthisnewtown，atoncerealestatedealersadvertisedtheplaceastheliterarycenterofKansas；

whilelotsinstragglingadditionsfarawayacrosstheprairiedrawswereboomedas"collegeflatswithinwalkingdistanceoftheuniversity。”

InthisnewsettingLloydFennebenstartedagaintobuildupwhathadbeensorecklesslytorndown。Butitwasslowdoing，andinadowncasthourtheheadoftheboardoftrusteestookcouncilwiththeyoungdean。

"Funnybone，that"swhattheboyscallyou，ain"tit？"

Thenamehadcomealongovertheprairiewiththeschool。

"Funnybone，youareaslikelyamanaseverescapedfromBoston。Butyou"renevergoingtobuildtheEastintotheWest，nomore"nyoucouldramtheWestintotheAtlanticseaboardstates。

MyadvicetoyouistogetyourselfintotheWestforgoodanddropyourhigherlearnin"notions，andbeoneofus，orbeatitbacktowhereyoucamefromquick。”

DeanFennebenlistenedasamanwhohearsthereadingofhisownobituary。

"You"vecomeouttoKansaswithbeautifuldreams，"theblufftrusteecontinued。"Drop"em!You"retoolatefortheNewEnglandpioneerswhocomeWest。They"vehadtheirdayandpassedon。

Thethingforyoutodoistocommercializeyourselfrightaway。

Gotobuyin"andsellin"dirt。It"sallamancandoforKansasnow。

Justboomherrealestate。”

"AllamancandoforKansas!"Fennebenrepeatedslowly。

"Sure，andI"lltellyousomethingmore。Thistownisbusted，absolutelybusted。I，andafewothers，broughtthiscollegehereasaninvestmentforourselves。

Itain"tpaidus，andwe"vethrowedthethingover。

I"vejustclosedadealwithaNewJerseysyndicatethatgetsmeridofeveryfootofgroundIownhere。Thecounty-seat"sgoin"

tobeeighteenmilessouth，anditwillbekingdomcome，a"most，beforetherailroadextensionisanynearer"nthat。

Letyouruniversitygo，andcomewithme。Icanmakeyourichinsixmonths。Insixweeksthecoyoteswillbehowlin"

throughyourcollegehalls，andtheprairiedogslayin"

outatownsiteonthecampus，andtherattlesnakescoilin"

roundthedoorsteps。Willyoucome，Funnybone？"

Thetrusteewaitedforananswer。Whilehewaited，thesouloftheyoungdeanfounditself。

"Funnybone!"Lloydrepeated。"Iguessthat"sjustwhatIneed——

afunnyboneinmyanatomytohelpmetoseethehumorofthisthing。

Gowithyouandgiveupmycollege？Builduptheprosperityofacommonwealthbystarvingitsmind!No，no；I"llgoonwiththethingIcameheretodo——

sohelpmeGod!"

"You"llsoongotothedevil，youandyouroldschool。

Good-by!"Andthetrusteelefthim。

Amonthlater，DeanFennebensataloneinhisuniversitybarracksandsawtheprairiedogsmakingthedustflyastheydiggedaboutwhathadbeenintendedforaflowerbedonthecampus。Thenhepackeduphismeagerlibraryandothercollegeequipmentsandwalkedtenmilesacrosstheplainstohireamanwithateamtohaulthemaway。

Theteamsterhadmuchadotodrivehishalf-bridle-wiseIndianponiesnearenoughtotheuniversitydoorwaytoloadhiswagon。

Beforethethresholdahugerattlesnakelaycoiled，alreadydisputinganyhumanclaimtothiskingdomofthewild。

DiscouragingasallthismusthavebeentoFenneben，whenhestartedawayfromthedesertedtownhesmiledjoyouslyasamanwhoseeshisroadfairbeforehim。

"ImightgobacktoCambridgeandpokeaboutafterthedeadlanguagesuntilmybrotherpasseson，andthendropintohischairintheuniversity，"hesaidtohimself，"butthetrusteewasright。

IcanneverbuildtheEastintotheWest。ButIcanlearnfromtheEasthowtobringtheWestintoitsownkingdom。Icanmakethedeadlanguagesservemethebettertospeakthelivingwordshere。

AndifIcandothat，ImayearnaMaster"sDegreefrommyAlmaMaterwithoutthewritingofalearnedthesistoclinchit。

ButwhetherIwinhonororIamforgotten，thisshallbemylife-work——

outontheseKansasprairies，totillasoilthatshallgrowMENANDWOMEN。”

ForthenextthreeyearsDeanFennebenandhiscollegeflourishedonthebordersofalittlefrontiertown，ifthatcanbecalledflourishingwhichusesuptime，andmoney，andenergy，Christianpatience，anddoggedpersistence。

ThenanAugustprairiefire，sweepingupfromthesouthwest，leapedthenarrowfire-guardabouttheonebuildingandburnedupeverythingthere，exceptDeanFenneben。Sixyears，andnothingtoshowforhisworkontheoutside。Inside，thesixyears"

stayinKansashadseenthemakingoverofascholarlydreamerintoahard-headed，far-seeing，masterfulman，whotooktheWestashefoundit，butdidnotleaveitso。Nothe!

Allthepowerofhigherlearninghestillheldsupreme。

Butbydaysofhardworkinthecollegehalls，andnightsofmeditationoutinthesilentsanctuaryspacesoftheprairiesroundabouthim，hehadbeenlearninghowtocomputetheneedsofmenastheangelwiththegoldenreedcomputedthewallsandgatesoftheNewJerusalem——_*accordingtothemeasureofaman_。

SuchwasDeanFennebenwhocameaftersixyearsofservicetothelittletownofLagondaLedgetoplantSunriseonthecrestabovetheWalnutValleybeyondreachofprairiefireorburstingboom。

Firmsetasthelimestoneofitsfoundations，herearedhereacollegethatshouldlive，forthatitsbuilderhimselfwithhisfeetonthegroundandhisfacetowardthelighthadlearnedthesecretofliving。

Milesawayacrossthevalley，thedomeofSunrisecouldbeseenbyday。

Bynight，theoldcollegelanternatfirst，andlaterthestuddingofelectriclights，madeabeaconforalltheopencountryside。

Butifthewayfarer，bychanceorchoice，turnedhisfootstepstothoserockybluffsandglensbeyondtheWalnutRiver，wherefromthetownofLagondaLedgetakesitsname，helosttheguidingrayfromthehilltopandgropedinblackanddangerouswayswheredarknessrules。

AbovethesouthturrethungtheSunrisebell，whoseresonantvoicefilledthewholevalley，andwhatthesightofSunrisefailedtodoforLagondaLedge，thesoundofthebellaccomplished。

Thefirstclasstoentertheschoolnicknameditshead"DeanFunnybone，"butthisgavehimnoshockanymore。

Hehadlearnedthehumoroflifenow，thespiritoftheopenlandwheretheviewisbroadtobroadeningsouls。

AnditwastothehandofDeanFennebenthatProfessorVincentBurgess，A。B。，GreekinstructorfromBoston，andVicBurleigh，thebigcountryboyfromaclaimbeyondtheWalnut，cameonaSeptemberday；albeit，theonehadhisheadintheclouds，whiletheother"sfeetwerecloggedwiththegrassroots。

CHAPTERII

POTTER"SCLAY

_Thisclay，wellmixedwithmarlandsand，Followsthemotionofmyhand，Forsomemustfollowandsomecommand，Thoughallaremadeofclay_——

LONGFELLOW

THEafternoonsunshinewasfloodingtheSeptemberlandscapewithmoltengold，fillingthevalleywithintenseheat，andripplingbackinwarmwavesfromthecrestoftheridge。

DeanFenneben"sstudyinthesouthtowerofSunriselookedoutonthenewheavenandthenewearth，everyday-dawncreatedafreshforhiseyes；fortruly，theWalnutValleyinanymoodneedsonlyeyesthatseetobecalledagoodlyland。

Anditwasbecauseofthemagnificentvista，unfoldinginwoodland，andwindingriver，andfertilefield，andfargoldenprairie——

itwasbecauseoftheunconsciouspowerofallthisuponthestudentmind，thatDr。Fennebenhadsethiscollegeuphere。

OnthisSeptemberafternoon，theDeansatlookingoutonthislandofpuredelighta-quiverinthelatesummersunshine。

NaturehaddonewellbyLloydFenneben。Hisheightwascommanding，andhewasslender，ratherthanheavy，witheaseofmovementasiftheplayofeverymusclewasnervedtoharmony。

Hisheavyblackhairwaswornatriflelongontheupperpartofhisheadandfellinmassesabovehisforehead。

Hiseyeswereblackandkeenunderheavyblackbrows。

Everyfeaturewasstrongandmassive，butsavedfromsternnessbyagenialkindlinessandsenseofhumor。

Whoevercameintohispresencefeltthatmagneticpoweronlyakingofhiskindcanpossess。

LongtheDeansatgazingatthegleaminglandscapeandthesleepytownbeyondthecampusandthepigeonscirclinggracefullyabovealittlecottage，hiddenbytrees，uptheriver。

"Awonderfulregion!"hemurmured。"Ifthatoldwhite-hairedbrotherofminediggingabouttherootsofGreekandSanscritbackinHarvardcouldonlyseeallthis，maybehemightunderstandwhyIchoosetostayherewithmycollegeinsteadoftyingupwithauniversitybackEast。But，maybenot。

Weareonlystep-brothers。Heisoldenoughtobemyfather，andwithallhisknowledgeofbookshecouldneverreadmen。However，hesentmeWestwithafatpocketbookintheinterestofhighereducation。

IhopeI"veinvestedwell。Andourmagnificentgroupofbuildingsuphereandourbroad-acredcampus，togetherwithoursplendidenrollmentofstudentsjustifymyhope。Strange，IhaveneverknownwhosemoneyIwasusing。

NotJoshuaWream"s，Iknowthat。MoneyisnothingtotheWreamsexceptasitendowslibraries，buildscolleges，andextendsuniversities。

Tooscholarlyfortheseprairies，allofthem!Tooscholarly!"

TheDean"seyeswerefixedonatinyshaftofbluesmokerisingsteadilyfromtheroughcountryinthevalleybeyondLagondaLedge，buthismindwasstillonhisbrother。

"Dr。JoshuaWream，D。D。，Litt。D。，LL。D。，etc。!Hehastakenallthedegreesconferable，exceptthedegreeofhumaninsight。”Somethingbehindthestrongfacesentalineofpathosintoitwiththethought。

"Hehaspiledupenoughformetolookafterthisfall，anyhow。

Itwasbadenoughforthatnieceofourstobeleftapennilessorphanwithonlythetwounclestolookafterherandbothofusbachelors。

Andnow，afterhehasbeenshapingElinorWream"slifeuntilsheisreadyforcollege，hesendsheroutheretome，franklydeclaringthatsheistoomuchforhim。Shealwayswas。”

Heturnedtoaletterlyingonthetablebesidehim，asmileplayingaboutthefrownonhiscountenance。

"HehopesIcandobetterbyElinorthanhehasbeenabletodo，becausehe"sneverhadawifenorchildtoteachhim，"hecontinued，givingwordtohisthought。"Afinetimeformetobegin!

Nowifenorchildhasevertaughtmeanything。Hesayssheisagoodgirl，abeautifulgirlwithonlytwogreatfaults。Onlytwo!

She"slucky。`One""——Fennebenglancedmorecloselyattheletter——"

`isherself-will。"IneverknewaWreamthatdidn"thavethatfault。

`Andtheother""——thefrowndrovebackthesmilenow——"`ishernotionofwealth。Nobodybutarichmancouldeverwinherhand。"

Shewhohasbeensimplyreared，withalltheWreamcreedthathighereducationisthefinalendofman，issetwithaWream-likefirmnessinherhatredofpoverty，hereagernessforrichesandluxury。

AndtoaddtoallthisresponsibilityhemustsendmehispetGreekscholar，VincentBurgess，totryoutasaprofessorinSunrise。ABurgess，ofallmenintheworld，tobesenttome!OfcoursethisyoungmanknowsnothingofmyaffairsbutismybrothertoooldandtooscholarlytorememberwhatI"vetriedathousandtimestoforget？

Ithoughttheoldwoundhadhealedbythistime。”

Awaveofsadnesssweptthestrongman"sface。"I"veaskedBurgesstocomeupatthree。Imustfindoutwhatmaterialissenthereformyshaping。

Itisapresident"sbusinesstoshapewell，andImustdomybest，Godhelpme!"

AshadowdarkenedLloydFenneben"sface，andhisblackeyesheldastrangelight。HestaredvacantlyatthelandscapeuntilhesuddenlynotedtheslenderwaveringpillarofsmokebeyondtheWalnut。

"Therearenohousesinthoseglensandhiddenplaces，"hethought。

"Iwonderwhatfireisunderthatsmokeonadaylikethis。

Itisafarcryfromthetopofthisridgetothebottomofthathalf-tamedregiondownthere。Onemayseeintothreecountieshere，butitisroughtravelingacrosstheriverbyday，andworsebynight。”

ThebellabovethesouthturretchimedthehourofthreeasVincentBurgessenteredthestudy。

"Takethisseatbythewindow，"Dr。Fennebensaidwithagenialsmileandahandclaspworthremembering。"YoucanseeanEmpirefromthispoint，ifyoucaretolookout。”

VincentBurgesssatateaseinanypresence。Hehadthefaceofascholar，andthemannersofagentleman。Buthegavenosignthathecaredtoviewtheempirethatlaybeyondthewindow。

"Wearetobeco-workersforsometime，Burgess。MayIaskyouwhyyouchosetocometoKansas？"

Fennebencamestraighttothepurposeoftheinterview。

Thiskeen-eyed，business-likemanseemedtoBurgessveryunlikeoldDr。Wream，whomeverybodyatHarvardlovedandanybodycoulddeceive。

Buttothedirectquestionheanswereddirectlyandconcisely。

"Icametostudytypes，toacquiregeographicalbreadth，tohaveseclusion，thatImaypursuemoreprofoundresearch。”

TherewasaplayoflightinDr。Fenneben"seyes。

"YoumustjudgeforyourselfofthevalueofSunriseandLagondaLedgeforseclusion。Butwemakeaspecialtyofgeographicalbreadthouthere。

Astotypes，theyassayfairlywelltotheton，theseJayhawkersdo。”

"WhatareJayhawkers，Doctor？"Burgessqueried。

"Yonderisonespecimen，"Fennebenanswered，pointingtowardthewindow。

VincentBurgess，lookingout，sawVicBurleighleapingupthebroadstepsfromthelevelcampus，agiantfellow，fullysixfeettall。

Theswingofstrength，voidofgrace，wasinhismotion。

Hisfacewasgypsy-brownunderacropofsunburnedauburnhair。

Astiffnewderbyhatwassetbashfullyonaheadsetunabashedonbroadshoulders。Thestore-markoftheready-madewasonhisclothing，anditwasclearthathewaslessaccustomedtocutstonestepsthantospringingprairiesod。

Clearlyhewasarealproductofthesoil。

"Why，thatistheyoungbumpkinIcameinwiththismorning。

IthoughtIwasstridingalongsideanelephantinbulkandwildhorseinspeed，"Burgesssaidwithasmile。

"Youwillhaveashareintaminghim，doubtless，"Dr。Fennebenreplied。

"Helookshardlybridle-wiseyet。Enterhimamongyourtypes。

Ididn"tgethisnamethismorning，butheinterestedmeatonce，asafellowofgoodbloodifnotofgoodmanners，andIhaveaskedhimtocomeinherelater。Someboysmustbemetontheverythresholdofacollegeiftheyaretorunsafelyalongthefouryears。”

"HisnameisBurleigh，VictorBurleigh。Irememberitbecauseitisnotanewnametome。Picturehiminacapandgownathomeinalibrary，orstandinguptoreceiveaMaster"sDegreefromauniversity!

Hiskindleaveaboutthemiddleofthesecondsemesterandreverttothesoil，don"tthey？"

Burgesslaughedpleasantly，andleanedforwardtogetonemorelookatthecountryboy，disappearingbehindagroupofevergreensinthenorthangleofthebuilding。

"Theydonotalwaysleavesosoonasthat。Youcan"ttellthegradeoftimbereverytimebythebarkoutside。”

TherewasadeepertoneinDr。Fenneben"svoicenow。

"Butastoyourself，youhadamotiveincomingtoKansas，Ijudge。

Youcanstudytypesanywhere。”

Whethertheyoungmanlikedthisornot，heansweredevenly:

"IamtogiveinstructioninGreekhereatLagondaLedge。Beastlyname，isn"tit？Suggestiveofrattlesnakes，somehow!Ishallspendmuchtimeinstudy，forIampreparingacomprehensivethesisformyMaster"sDegree。Theverybarrennessofthesedullprairieswillkeepmeclosetomylibraryforacoupleofyears。”

"Oh，youwilldoyourworkwellanywhere，"Dr。Fennebendeclared。

"Youneednotputwallsofdistancesaboutyouforthat。

Ithoughtyoumighthaveamoredefinitepurposeinchoosingthisstate，ofallplaces。”

Fenneben"smindwasrunningbacktothedaysofhisownfirststruggleforexistenceintheWest，andhisheartwentoutinsympathytotheundisciplinedyoungprofessor。

"Ihaveareason，butitisentirelyapersonalmatter。”

Burgesswaslookingatthefloornow。"DidyouknowIhadasisteronce？"

"Yes，Iknow，"Dr。Fennebensaid。

"ShewasmarriedandcametoKansas。ThatwasafteryouleftCambridge，Isuppose。Sheandherhusbandarebothdead，leavingnochildren。Myfatherwasbitterlyopposedtohercomingouthere，andneverforgaveherforit。

Hediedrecently，makingmehisheir。I"vealwaysthoughtI"dliketoseethestatewheremysisterlived。Shediedyoung。

Shecouldnothavebeenasoldasyouare，andyouareayoungmanyet，Doctor。Inaddition，myfatherleftinmycaresometrustfundsforaclaimantwhoalsolivedinKansas。Heisdeadnow，butIwanttofindoutsomethingmoredefiniteconcerninghim。

Outsideofthis，Ihopetodowellhereandtosucceedtohigherplaceselsewhere，soon。Allthispersonaltomyself，andworthy，Ihope。”

HelookedatFenneben，whowasleaningforwardwithhiselbowonthetableandhisheadbowed。Hisfacewashiddenandhiswhitefingerswerethrustthroughtheheavymassesofblackhair。

"Youwillfindagreatfieldhereinwhichtoworkoutyoursuccess，"

theDeansaidatlength。"ButImustgiveawordofwarning。

Itriedoncetoreproducetheeasternuniversityhere。

Ilearnedbetter。IfKansasistobeyourtrainingground，mayIsaythatthemanwhoopenshisfrontdoorforthefirsttimeonthegreenprairiesoftheWesthasnolesstolearnthanthemanwhofirstpitcheshistentbesidetheblueAtlantic？Don"tsayIdidn"tshowyouwheretofindtheblazedtrailifyougetlostfromitforalittlewhile。”

Dr。Fenneben"sfacewascharmingwhenhesmiled。

"OneotherthingImaymention。Youknowmyniece，Elinor？I"vebeenoutheresolong，Imayneedyourhelpinmakingherfeelathomeatfirst。”

TherewasanewlightinBurgess"seyesatthementionofElinorWream"sname。

"Oh，yes，IknowMissElinorverywell。Ishallneedhermoretomakemefeelathomethanshewillneedme。”

Somehowtheanswerwasatrifletooquickandsmoothtoringright。

Dr。Fennebenforgotitinaninstant，however，forElinorWreamherselfcamesuddenlyintotheroom，atall，slendergirl，withafacesofullofsunshinycharmthatnogreatdefectofcharacterhadyetmadeitsmarkthere。

"Ibegyourpardon，UncleLloyd；Ithoughtyouwerealone。Howdoyoudo，ProfessorBurgess。”Shecameforwardsmilinglyandofferedherhand。

"MakesmehomesickforoldCambridgeandUncleJoshuawhenIseeyou。

IwanttogodowntoLagondaLedge，andIdon"tknowthestreetsatall。

Don"tyouwanttoshowmetheway？"

"Can"tyouwaitformetodothat，Norrie？Ihaveonlyonemoreengagementfortheafternoon，andMissSaxonwillbewantingtodustinheresoon。”

Dr。Fennebenlookedfondlyathisniece，amantomakeothermenjealous，ifoccasionoffered。

"Pleasedon"t，MissElinor，"VincentBurgessurged。

"IshallbedelightedtoexploredarkestKansaswithyouatanytime。”

"Thereisnomistakingthatlookinaman"seyes，"Dr。Fennebenthoughtashewatchedthetwopassthroughtherotundaandoutofthegreatfrontdoor。"IhaveguessedJoshua"splaneasilyenough，butI"veonlyhalfguessedhimout。Whydidhementionhismoneymatterstome？

ThereisenoughmeritinhimworththeshapingSunrisewillgivehim，however，andImustdoaman"spart，anyhow。AsforElinor，there"saready-mademissionaryfieldinher，soJoshuawarnsme。